It's "policy" is shoot first and ask questions later. "(T)his is how we will act in this case as well," he stressed.

He was visiting Sderot near Gaza's border when Latif was shot. His employer said:

"We worked for there for a long time and nothing happened, and then suddenly everything started."

"We got used to wandering around the area freely, but after what happened I don't think we'll go back there. It's scary."

He stopped of placing blame where it belongs. Palestinians don't act aggressively. Hamas goes way out of its way to avoid confrontations. So do other Palestinian resistance groups.

They respond solely to repeated Israeli provocations. They have every right to do so in self-defense.

They resent being used for Israeli target practice. One incident too many draws responses. Several occurred in recent days. Expect more if Israeli viciousness continues.

On December 20, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) blamed Israel for "excessive force."

IDF soldiers attacked two civilians. They were collecting scrap metal and plastics near Israel's border fence. They threatened no one. PCHR described what happened as follows:

"Israeli forces killed 'Odah Jihad Hamad (27) and wounded his Brother, Raddad (22), while being near the border fence."

"(A)t approximately (noon) on Friday, 20 December 2013, Raddad went with his brother 'Odah to the landfill near the border area, east of Beit Hanoun, in order to collect plastics and steels for livelihood."

"At approximately (5:30PM), when the area was very calm, Israeli forces stationed at the borderline opened fire at them without any prior warning."

"As a result, 'Odah was wounded by a bullet to the head and fell onto the ground while Raddad was hiding in a low area."

He "tried to reach his brother to rescue him, but Israeli forces opened fire at him (and) wound(ed) him by a bullet to the right hand."

"He immediately fled and managed to call the Palestine Red Crescent Society to send him an ambulance."

It "was delayed by Israeli forces till at approximately (6:15PM) when it obtained coordination through the International Committee of the Red Cross."

Its "staff searched for 'Odah...(They found) him wounded and then transferred him to the Beit Hanoun Governmental Hospital."

"He was entered into the Intensive Care Unit, but a few minutes later, he was pronounced dead."

Separately on the same day, IDF troops wounded three other civilians, including a child. They fired "at civilians who threw stones at the military site on the borderline, east of Jabalia," said PCHR.

On December 24, Mossad-connected DEBKAfile (DF) headlined "Israel holds back on punishment for Palestinian murder to save Mid East talks."

It wants them treated like non-persons. It wants them ruthlessly exploited. It wants racist persecution continued. It lies claiming otherwise.

"…Israeli government and military chiefs (agonized) over how to fight back against surging Palestinian terrorism attacks without derailing ongoing US-sponsored Middle East peace talks," said DF.

It bears repeating. Palestinians show remarkable restraint. They respond only after repeated Israeli provocations. They have every right to do so in self-defense.

Israel is a longstanding rogue aggressor. Don't expect DF to explain. It called air and ground attacks on multiple sites "a relatively mild response."

It lied claiming Palestinians established a new Gaza and Istanbul "terrorist command."

Next week, more Palestinian political prisoners are scheduled to be released. Their crime is wanting to live free on their own land. They want it in peace and security.

DF calls them "terrorists." It ignores repeated acts of Israeli aggression. They include air and ground assaults, daily community incursions, mass arrests, imprisonments and overall police state thuggishness.

Palestinian suffering continues. Gaza's attack is the latest incident. Expect more to follow. Expect Palestinians to be blamed for Israeli crimes.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book is titled "Banker Occupation: Waging Financial War on Humanity."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.

It airs Fridays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.